This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
In addition to rumors about new iPad models, reports about upcoming iPhone devices are also regularly documented. Now there is a new forecast regarding the camera lenses.
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new forecast regarding future iPhone models. He stated that no significant changes are expected in the camera lens sector until at least 2022. His forecast actually focuses on a new price war between lens suppliers Largan and Genius Electronic Optical, which will affect the suppliers' profitability, with Genius Electronic Optical being particularly vulnerable due to its high dependence on Apple combined with Largan's willingness to lower prices and the impending entry of Sunny Optical into the supply chain for high-end iPhone camera lenses. The analysis states:
We expect Largan to reduce the ASP for mid-to-high-end iPhone lenses by about 15-25% in 1H21 to increase its capacity utilization. Yujingguang's [Genius Electronic Optical] order share, capacity utilization and gross profit margin will be directly affected. The impact of the price war will unfold in January 2021, and Yujingguang's January revenue may only grow by single digits or even decline.
iPhone 2021 & iPhone 2022: Apple could improve on the software side
Kuo predicts that there will be "no significant upgrade of the camera lens in 2021 and 2022," suggesting that the challenges for Genius Electronic Optical could extend over several years "unless the structural challenges of the lens industry are significantly improved or Yujingguang can significantly reduce its dependence on Apple orders." Despite Kuo's prediction that there will be no significant hardware advancements for the camera lenses in the 2021 and 2022 iPhone models, this does not necessarily mean that there will be no improvements to overall camera performance. Apple also puts considerable effort into the software of its camera features, so we could still get new features and other optimizations due to improvements in both the software and other elements of the camera hardware beyond the lenses. (Photo by weyo / Bigstockphoto)
